Stickney, IL (SportsNetwork.com) – Mister Marti Gras goes for another shot at
the $250,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Saturday after finishing second in last year’s
renewal.
Trained by Chris Block, Mister Marti Gras will take on 10 rivals in the 1 1/4-
mile stakes at Hawthorne Race Course just outside Chicago. The 7-year-old
chestnut gelding will be ridden by Tim Thornton and break from post 10.
Last year, 14-1 longshot Mister Marti Gras came from off the pace and was
five-wide at the quarter-pole before dropping a length decision to Last
Gunfighter. The gelding comes into this year’s Gold Cup with just one win from
seven starts for $80,955.
Mister Marti Gras’ best effort in 2014 came in the Hanshin Cup at Arlington
Park when he finished second as a 16-1 longshot. The gelding lost by a half-
length to Nikki’s Sandcastle after racing well off the pace and going six-wide
on the final turn.
Overall, Mister Marti Gras has earned $1,082,919 with 10 wins, 11 seconds and
five thirds in 42 lifetime starts.
Here is the Gold Cup field in post position order: Abraham, Joe Rocco Jr.;
Hattaash, Sheldon Russell; Red Rifle, Florent Geroux; Cary Street, Miguel
Mena; Ever Rider, Frankie Pennington; Effinex, Angel Arroyo; Street Spice,
Edgar Perez; Call Me George, Emmanuel Esquivel; Fordubai, Israel Ocampo;
Mister Marti Gras, Tim Thornton and Midnight Aria, Julio Felix.
The Hawthorne Gold Cup has an approximate post time of 6:20 p.m. ET.
